The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-04-22
da, she vas not good enough to wax

da, she was not good enough to wsak
in my kitchen, and away she went"
Like the cat in the nursery rhyme.
Do you remember? / think that one
Of the most absurdly fascinating lit
tie rhymes ever sung to delighted
baby:
The old cat sat in the fodder stack,
A making OF u now night cap;
She ripped she tore, she vowed, she swore
She swore she wouldn sit there anymore
And away she went. Well, who
came next2 Was it the Queen OF the
OF Venice?"
"She who held nightly receptions in
the kitchen? She who entertained her
sisters and her cousins and her aunts,
her uncles and her brothers and her
beaux, until the wee sma' hours? 1t
was she; and when l objected--trem-
blingly and hesitatingly objected to
SO much loud hilarity to so late an
hour every night, she too folded her
tent like the Arab and stole away"
"And next?"
Nancy came next. You remember
Nancy; her offence was Shakesperean;
it smelled to heaven Ugh! wasn't
she n filthy creature?"
Remember her? l should say l
did, Evelyn. You may break, you
may shatter the rose if you will, but
the scent OF that servant girl fingers
there still. But believe she was
more tractable than her predecessors.
She listened to your suggestions and
endeavored to profit by thenl,'
fTractable? Yes, she made tracks
very soon l believe, after had sug.
gested to her the propriety OF being
little neater in her dress, and dis
covered her sailing forth to church
the next evening, decked in my India
shawl and best bonnet"
"Evelyn, ! fear you were unreason.
able with that girl. You nipped her
early efforts at reform in the bud.
You crushed her young ambition.
She had listened gratefully to your
suggestions about her dress, and she
strove earnestly to please you. A
less thoughtful or ambitious girl might
have selected your second best bonnet
and your common street jacket to
wear. Not SO Nancy. Anxious to
prove to you her earnest effort at re-
form, she made choice of the best
garments your wardrobe afforded,
aud yet you were dissatisfied with
her. / do not wonder she went away"
.Nor I, John. l never wondered n
minute over that girls departure. 1t
seems to me the most natural occur
renee in the world"
"Dinner is served"
1t was low, sweet voice that made
the announcement, and a bright, hand
some, youthful face beamed upon us
for a moment at the doorway, and
then vanished. 1t WAS the voice and
face OF Mollie, our treasure.
We went out to the dining room to
find an exquisitely arranged table,
every detail perfect, and dinner which
would have done credit to a French
cook.
"Now, isn't this delightful" cried
Evelyn, land Mollie has done it all
herself; never went into the kitchen
once today. She says if give her an
idea of the style OF dinner we want, it
is oil she requires"
And she is on time, too," l said,
looking at my watch. "That is q
Startling virtue IN Itself.
II tell you she is q treasure, John;
she : is SO young, too, not over twenty,
"But am afraid she will soon have
q host OF followers. She is almost
too pretty. 1t must be that ghast-
ly fault turks somewhere about her.
II she does not disclose one soon !
shall fear death is about to clutch me,
and this is the hour OF respite grant
ed mo before / die. No doubt the
trouble will come through her follow
ers."
s.Oh. moi that is all arranged now.
She is engaged to q youngiellow about
her own age; the grocer's clerk, ] be.
lieve he is. He comes here twice each
week in the evening and stays till ten
o'clock. That is all the company she
has save her sister and an aunt, who
have called twice since she came
"SVell, ii she is engaged, then shell
be getting married and leaving us te
the mercies OF the cold and cruel world
again"
"Oh, no, not for two or three years
at least, she says. She talked to me
very frankly and sweetly about 1T
told me this young man was her lover
and the only follower she had. l &c
not like his face, he is not her equal
] am sure. He seems like a common
sort OF fellow, butsh is evidently very
fond OF him, and am sure J. would
far rather she should see one lovei
twice q week than have o variety com
ing here at all times"
AS the days wore on our treasure
developed new and admirable quail
ties; she won the baby's heart com
pletely, SO that he was perfectly con
| tent to be with her for hours at {
time.
She was a model OF neatness, and Sc
pretty and bright in her fresh, quain
little cap, that all our visitors imme
diately expressed admiration 10
our domestic. Then she was alway
smiling, and her work seemed tt
be q real enjoyment to her
! meyer saw her look cross or irritabl
no matter how tired she was, and sh
never complained when housefui O
company dropped in upon us as wa
frequently the case, and accepted al
most with reluctance, and alway
with profuse thanks, such extra fee
as gave her at these times.
What blessing she isl" Evelyl
said to me over and over. "I an
growing absolutely fond of her,"
$50 am l." ! began, but Evelyl
paralyzed me with look,
! II will monopolizs that part OF tn
household affairs, il you please" sh
SAID.
But l can't help a growing feelin
4 OF fondness for person who manage
u furnace ns she does" ] Ipleadee
"You know how we have alternatel
frozen and broiled until Mollie came
Now the temperature is just right q
ways ard ] am not called below
dozen times each day to explain o
lexplore the furnace. And she save
1 fuel too; and so can forgive heri sh
4 let the groeer's bill assume rather iol
midabie dimensions OF late"
'But, John. yoa must remembe
how much company we havs bee
having; and you always want the bes
OF everything you know, So don
blame Mollie ifthe grocer's bill is rati
er large"
4 aOb don,t blame Mollie for an,